Lifeboat and propelling mechanism therefor



March 12,- 1940.v E. E. BARNES 2,193,582

LIFEBOAT AND PROPELLING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filedl July 26, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l Syvum/1K0@ fdzaarJar/MS, F 7%/ f Snom/MJ March 12, 1940. E. E. BARNES 2,193,582

LIFEBOAT AND PHOPELLING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed July'zs, 193'/ 2 sheets-shag#L 2 Patented Mar. 1 2, 1940 PATENT y OFFiCE l LIFEBOAT AND PROPELLING MECHANISM i THEREFOR Edward E. Barnes, Philadelphia., Pa.

Application July 26, 1937, Serial No. 155,794

f. 1 2 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates generally to lifeboats, and comprehends an enclosed boat including a propelling mechanism of novel construction, thus eliminating the use of oars.

An important object of the invention resides in providing a manually operated propelling mechanism capable of developing maximum power with a minimum of effort.

One of the chief characteristics of the invent" tion resides in the provision of a manually operated propelling mechanism which assures an uninterrupted application of maximum power to the vpropellers with a minimum of effort, to-

gether with a constant speed of rotation of the propellers with a resultant smoothness of movement of the boat.

In carrying out the invention, the propelling mechanism embodies a pair of manually rotatable shafts, suitably geared together, but rotated respectively by separated groups of levers in a manner to provide a quadruple movement to the propelling mechanism as a whole and by virtue of which the propellers are rotated with a constant and maximum speed, without any interruption to the application of power, whereby the boat is operated with a respectively high degree of smoothness and with a minimum of effort.

The nature and advantages of the invention 30 will be better understood when the following detail description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein: 35 Figure 1 is a plan View of the boat with the protecting hood removed.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the boat partly broken away.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the propelling 40 mechanism enclosed.

Figure 4 is a top plan view thereof with the cover removed.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 4. Figure 6 is an elevation of one pair of operat- 45 ing levers.

Referring to the drawings in detail, I indi- Cates generally the boat which may be of any suitable construction or design. The boat is preferably enclosed for the protection of the occupants, by means of a suitable housing il including a supporting frame l2. The housing is provided with spaced openings I3 through. which persons may enter and leave the boat as the occasion may require. Each opening I3 is suffi- 55 ciently large to permit several persons to pass therethrough at a time, while each opening is controlled by a suitable cover i4. These covers are preferably constructed of canvas and spaced slats, and slide in channels of the supporting frame I2 of the hood Il, to either opened or D closed position. When closed, the covers lll are waterproof. 'I'he hood Il is preferably provided with dead lights l as shown. Extending beyond each end of the hood I l is a metallic deck I6 having a manhole controlled by a sliding cover 1U ll. The steering wheel is indicated at l.

As hereinabove stated, the invention comprehends a manually operated propelling mechanisrn, which eliminates the use of oars, and assures an uninterrupted application of maximum 1 power to the boat. In this connection I preferably employ a pairof propellers i9, each carried by a driven shaft 2li, and these propellers are capable of 'being operated independently or in unison as the occasion may require. For this purpose, the rotation of each propeller shaft 2li is controlled by a suitable clutch 2l including an operating lever 22.

Carried' by one and corresponding ends of the respective propeller shafts 2D, are bevel gears 25 23, which mesh with similar but larger gears 24 xed on a driven shaft indicated at 25. This shaft 25 is rotated from the main drive shaft 26 of the mechanism, which carries a large gear 21 meshing with a similar but smaller gear 28 30 xed in the shaft 25. Arranged on the ends of the main drive shaft 26 are crank arms 28 and 3D, which as illustrated are offset at quarters With relation to each other. Each crank arm is operated by a connecting rod 3l including 35 a pivoted section 32, through the instrumentality of oscillating levers 33. Any desired number of such levers may be employed in conjunction with each connecting rod 3 l depending of course upon the size of the boat. 40

With a'view of maintaining a constant and maximum speed of rotation of the propellers, thereby developing power and a smoothness of movement of the boat unequalled in lifeboats, I employ a manually rotated shaft 3d preferably 45 mounted above the driven shaft 25, and provided at its ends with crank arms and 36 offset at quarters with relation to each other, and also with relation to the crank arms 29 and 3|) of the main drive shaft Z6. The shaft 34 is rotated by 50 oscillating levers 31 connected tothe crank arms 35 and 36 by connecting rodsI 38 as illustrated. Carried by the shaft 34 is a gear 39 which meshes with a similar gear fixed on the main drive shaft 26. By virtue of the construction just described it is manifest that I have provided a quadruple movement for the propelling mechanism as a Whole, so that by simultaneously oscillating the respective groups of levers 33 and Sl, an uninterrupted application of power is transmitted to the propellers, and a constant and maximum speed of rotation thereof maintained, requiring a minimum of effort, and assuring smoothness of movement of the boat.

For the protection of the occupants of the boat, the propelling mechanism is enclosed in a suitable protective casing Lll, slotted to receive the pivoted sections 32 of the connecting rods for the manually rotatable shaft 25.

In order to maintain the boat free from water I employ one or more bilge pumps 42 operated by means of an eccentric connection i3 with the shaft 44. The latter is rotated from the shaft 2% which is equipped with a bevel gear l5 meshing with a similar but smaller gear 46 carried by the pump operating shaft G4. Also mounted on this shaft 41'; is a fly wheel Mi.

l/Vhile it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention Will be readily understood, I desire to have it known that I do not limit myself to what is herein illustrated or described, and that such changes may be resorted to as fall Within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. In a lifeboat, the combination with manually operable propellers, of a compact propelling mechanism therefor including a driven shaft geared to said propellers, a small gear mounted on said shaft, a manually rotated shaft arranged slightly in advance of the driven shaft parallel thereto, a relatively large gear mounted thereon and meshing With the small gear on said driven shaft, a second manually rotatable shaft mounted directly above said driven shaft in parallelism therewith, a gear carried by each manually rotatable shaft, with said respective gears meshing with each other, and a separate means for rotating each manually rotatable shaft, including oscillating levers.

2. In a lifeboat, the combination with manually operable propellers, of a compact propelling mechanism therefor including a driven shaft geared to said propellers, a. small gear mounted on said shaft, a manually rotated shaft arranged slightly in advance of and parallel with said driven shaft, a relatively large gear mounted thereon and meshing with the small gear on said driven shaft, a second normally rotatable shaft mounted directly above and in parallelism with said driven shaft, a gear carried by each manually rotatable shaft With said respective gears meshing with each other, crank arms carried by the ends of each manually rotatable shaft and offset at quarters with relation to each other, the crank arms on one of said shafts being offset at quarters and extending in opposite directions from the corresponding crank arms of the other oi said manually rotatable shafts, and separate groups of levers connected With the crank arms of the respective shafts for operating the same and said propellers With a constant speed of rotation, to maintain an uninterrupted application of maximum power to the propellers, with a minimum of effort.

EDWARD E. BARNES. 

